I began writing for Forbes in 2010. It was just as the economy was starting to perk up and a fascinating time to cover the stock market, which I did for three months until I switched beats in September 2010. Now I contribute to the Leadership channel, with a focus on jobs and careers–-another hot topic in a time when people are vigorously hunting for jobs or desperately trying to hold on to the ones they have. I have a BA from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in journalism from Hofstra University. Follow me on Twitter @JacquelynVSmith, subscribe to me on Google+, or email me at jsmith [at] forbes [dot] com.

10 Tips For Winning Over Your Colleagues

Do you have colleagues who are curt, callous, or just plain cold toward you?

It’s not uncommon for employees to find themselves in a situation where they’re not universally loved within their workplace, says Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach. “It’s rare that you can find a group of ten people who actually do all truly like each other, and in an environment where people depend on one another to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines, it’s only natural that there will be some tension, and often some grudges.”

Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, star of MTV’s Hired! and author of Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad, agrees. “During the 40-plus hour work week, people often end up spending more time with their co-workers than they do with their friends and families. Just as in any relationship, there are going to be conflicts.”

Most people work with a diverse group of colleagues with different skill sets, backgrounds, values, and interests—and while these differences can collectively make an organization stronger, they can also be a source of conflict, he adds.

“Every workplace has its own dynamic,” Friedman says. “In some offices, it’s practically standard for new employees to feel as if they are on trial and being judged harshly. This is most likely to occur in places where there have been major reorganizations or layoffs, and new employees are seen as a threat to veteran workers or a lower-cost, lower-caliber replacement for a beloved former colleague.”

Or maybe it’s just you.

If you don’t have strong interpersonal skills; don’t understand the company culture; don’t know how to adapt your style to work best with different personality types; or aren’t able to predict and address any potential conflicts before they become problems, you might be subjecting yourself to eye rolls and blow offs (or worse) in the office.

But whether it’s you or the office dynamic—you’ll want to try to get on your colleagues’ good side.

“It’s important to have a positive working relationship with all of your colleagues, even if you don’t have a strong personal relationship,” Kahn explains. “Very few people work in silos and will need the help of others in order to do their job well. Being a team player or working collaboratively are points that are commonly included in annual reviews, and it just takes one poor relationship to undermine your hard work for the year.” Even if you’re not interested in spending time with someone outside of work, take the time to appreciate what they bring to the table, and try to establish a cordial working relationship.

Friedman agrees. “While you don’t need to suck up to colleagues or flatter them with undeserved compliments, it is important to maintain an atmosphere of politeness, respect, and geniality in order to create an environment where people come in to work with a good attitude. It’s really hard to be productive when you resent the place you work or the people you work with.”

Want to win over your colleagues? Here are 10 things you can do:

Get to know your co-workers. Take time to learn about your co-worker’s life and interests outside of the office, Kahn says. “Sometimes it may surprise you how much you have in common.” One way to do this is by spending your lunch or coffee breaks with as many different people within your organization as possible. “This will help to grow your internal network, in addition to being a nice break in the work day.”

Listen. Sometimes just being a good listener can go a long way, Friedman says. “Rushing to get your own ideas out there can cause colleagues to feel you don’t value their opinions.” Show respect and listen to their suggestions or thoughts. Try to engage in a conversation instead of a competition.

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